Whether in Georgia or anywhere else in the United States, if you are a woman, you are much more likely to suffer severe injuries in a car accident. That is according to recent reporting that compared injury and fatality statistics of women against those of men. Motor vehicle crashes have gone up across the nation by 12% over 2020, which was also a banner year for accidents involving impaired, distracted and aggressive driving.
Although more men are killed in fatal crashes overall, women are up to 28% more likely to be killed on a per crash basis than men, and up to 73% more likely to be severely injured. As it turns out, women tend to choose smaller, lighter vehicles as their preferred mode of transportation, which makes them more prone to side-impact or front to rear crashes.
But that’s not the entire picture. Mannequins, which car manufacturers have used since the 1970’s for crash test programs, were modeled from men’s bodies until 2003, when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTHSA) started using smaller versions of the male dummy to represent women. Not accounting for significant differences between male and female anatomies, however, makes women at higher risk by 70% for lower body trauma.
Filing a claim
As a third-party liability state, the victim of a car crash may pursue compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance, so long as there is evidence to prove liability. Gathering evidence is a key component to pursuing compensation, and it starts right after the accident with the:
- Police report.
- Exchange of insurance and driver’s license information with the other driver.
- Photos of the damage.
- Witness statements.
Georgia has a tort system for liability coverage in a motor vehicle accident, which means that the insurance company of the at-fault driver is responsible for damages. The three basic coverages available are for:
- Bodily injury, with required minimum limits of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per incident.
- Property damage, with a required minimum limit of $25,000 per incident.
- Optional uninsured motorist.
Although uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) insurance is available but not required in Georgia, refusal of this coverage must usually be in writing for new policies.
Pursuing a personal injury claim
Because insurance companies may deny or lowball a claim, it is best to seek legal options first before accepting a settlement. If the extent of the victim’s injuries exceeds the limits of coverage, filing a negligence claim can allow the victim to receive compensation if they were less to blame for the accident than the other driver.